Record projector



NOV. 12, 19.40. Q w, BURCKY I 2,220,885

RECORD PROJECTOR Filed DOO. 17 1938 3 Sheets-ShOet 2 FIQZ ,o3 as 1e l? D x 32 i 9| luun -ll6 IOS |44 A ORNEY. l

l iNvENToR. CHARLES w. uwcmrV Nov. 12, 1940. c. w. BURcKY RECORD PROJECTOR Filed Dec..A 17, 1938 25 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3

F l G 4 INVNTOR. CHARLES w. euRcKY A ORNEY.

Patented Nov. 12, y194() UNITED STATES RECORD PROJECTOR Charles W. Burcky, Chicago, lll., assigner to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application December 17, 1938, Serial No. 246,303

8 Claims. (Cl. 178-24) This invention pertains to printing telegraph apparatus and more particularly to devices of this type in which a considerable portion of a recorded message is to be displayed at any time for observation at a distance.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide in a recording apparatus a paper feeding and display device which maintains a substantially continuous tension in the paper in) strip between the platen and the paper take-up reel.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide in a record projector, means for facilitating the shifting and unshifting of the exposed area without bulging the paper strip or disturbing the focus of the projection.

In a preferred form of the invention, the message display device comprises a recording telegraph printer, of` any conventional type and '20 preferably of the page printer type, in which the recording paper is advanced by line feed movement of the` printer platen. The device comprises a paper backing plate, which is located just above the platen and which is inclined slightly to the rear. Incidentally, the height of the plate is such that at least eleven printed lines, spaced at double line feed, may be exposed on the paper which is immediately in front of the backing plate. After the paperv passes around the platen and in front of the backing plate, it is gripped between feed and pressure rollers located at the upper end of the backing plate, the feed roller of which is driven by a beltthrough power derived from l the main operating shaft of the printing apparatus. After passing between the feed and pressure rollers, the paper is fed around a paper takeup spindle which is also driven by a beltfrom the samesource. lThese beltsv cooperate with pulleys mounted on a power-takeo1 shaft which derives its power, through a belt, from the main shaft of the printer.

One of the features of the invention resides in the fact, that'fthe support for the paper backing plate is so designed that the backing plate is in the same plane when the -platenyis located in either the upper or the lower case position, so that the exposed area may be' shifted and unshifted without bulging the paper or disturbing the focus of the projecting apparatus. By providing the above-mentioned feeding mechanism, having a continuous torque, in addition to the usual line feed mechanism, the exposed area of the record strip is always kept taut between the paper platen and the feed roller at the upper end of the paper backing plate. Also, with the arrangement according to the present invention,

in Fig. 1 with parts broken away to show fea.-

tures of the present invention; 15

Fig, 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view talrenV substantially on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end view of the platen 20 unit to show part of the line feed and platen shifting mechanisms; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the general structure of the projecting device showing diagrammatically the Optical arrangement 25 therein.

In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters indicate similar parts throughout the several views. For a complete understanding of details shown in the drawings but not de- $0 scribed herein and which form no part of the present invention, reference may be had to U. S. Patent No. 1,904,164 issued April 18, 1933, to S. Morton et al.

Having reference to Fig. 6, the projector with 35 which the printing apparatus embodying the present invention is employed comprises a. general structure having a low'er compartment Il and an upper compartment I2 supported directly above the lowercompartment by means of four 40 posts I3. The lower compartment Il contains the telegraph printer, indicated generally as Il,

which is of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patent and which embodies the display and feeding devices according to the present in- 45 vention. The recording strip I5 is indicated as extending from the supply roll I6, over the backing plate l1, thence to the take-up reel |22. Contained also within the lower compartment II are certain parts of the optical system; namely, the viewing mirror I9, the objective lens 2l and the illuminating lamp 22. The upper compartment I2, which is open at the bottom contains a large mirror i3 and a screen 24 of trans'icent 55 material for displaying the image of the record on strip |5.

vHaving reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a print-` ing apparatus to which the present invention is applied comprises a typing unit (shown generally in section in Figs. 3) which includes a pri mary selecting mechanism, indicated generally as 25 (Fig. 4), which is of the sWord-and-T type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,745,633 issued to S. Morton et al. (fully disclosed in the rstmentioned patent), and a secondary selector or selector vane assembly, indicated generally as 26'. The selector vane assembly 26 controls, through a series of bell cranks 21, a corresponding series of curved code bars 28 carried in a movable type carriage. As set forth in the firstmentioned patent, this type carriage, indicated generally as 29, is movable longitudinally with respect to a stationary platen 3|. 'I'he type carrlage 29 also carries a ribbon feed mechanism, indicated generally as 32.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, a motor 33 supplies power through its pinion 34 and a worm gear 35 to a main operating shaft 36 which carries the spacing mechanism, indicated generally as 31, and the selector cam assembly indicated generally as 38. As is fully disclosed in the first-mentioned patent, power is communicated from the motor 33 to an operating cam assembly through a grab clutch, such as shown at 39. Driving portion 4| of grab clutch 39 constantly rotates with the shaft 36, which has also frictionally connected thereto the spacing mecha nism 31 and the selecting cam assembly 38. Poris .cooperatively engageable with the driven portion 42 (which is splined to the operating cam assembly) when throwout lever 43 is operated in timed relation with the reception of code signals.

The spacing mechanism 31, by means of its escapement pawls .44 and the escapement ratchet 45 (fully described in the first-mentioned patent) controls, through the Worm gear 46, a gear 41 which, through shaft-48, gear 49, and rack (Fig. 3),r controls the movement ofthe type carriage 29.

Upon receipt of signal code combinations the primary selector mechanismv 25 responds thereto and controls, through elements 52 (Fig. 4), the selective setting of vanes `26. As described in the first-mentioned patent, this setting of vanes 26 is transferred to the curved code bars 28 through the instrumentality of bell cranks 21.

.The setting of the code bars 28 permutatively causes an alignment,l of notches to occur opposite one ofy the pull bars 54. As previously mentioned, the operation of the primary selector 'cam assembly 38 causes the clutch throwout lever 43 to be operated to permit the operative engagement of grab clutch- 39 and the rotation of the operating cams. A cam 51 (Fig. 3) controls a function lever bail 56, and a printing bail 58. Printing bail 58 is operatively articulated (as described in the first-mentioned patent) to a pull bar operating bail 59, so that when one of the pull bars 54 falls into an alignment of notches in code bars 28,l the pull bar bail 59 (which is reciprocated when the printing bail` 58 is oscillated) will engage (through its blade 6|) the hook portion 62 of the pull bar 54. Thus, the pull bar 54 will be actuated leftwardly, as viewed in Fig. 3, against the action of its springs 63 to operate its associated type bar 64, through its gear and rack articulation therewith, in a clockwise direction to bring the type face against the platen 3|.

' in the first-mentioned patent.

The selector vanes 26 also control a series of function levers 65 which control the various functions, such as line feed, platen shift, and platen unshift, which are especially identified with the present invention. The function levers 65 are pivotally mounted on a common pivot rod 66 and are adapted under certain selective conditions to be rocked in a counterclockwise direction against vanes 26 by a spring 61. However, the function levers 65 are held against action by spring 61 by the function lever bail 56. Upon rotation of the cam 51 in timed relation with the selective operation, the bail 56 is oscillated, and through lthe cooperation of rod 68 with arm 69, the function lever selected will be actuated by its spring 61 into registrable engagement with the selector vanes 26 to effect (as fully described in the firstmentioned patent) the operation or performance of the function assigned -to the particular func.

tion lever 65 selected.

A ribbon oscillating bell crank 1| is pivoted at 12 on a lever 13 in order that the ribbon shall retain its relation to the platen in both the upper and lower case positions, as fully described In this manner it is insured that the printing will be equally visible to the projecting system Whether the recording operations be in the upper or the lower case position.

In accordance with the present invention the guiding and display means for the paper strip has been attached to the platen structure in order that the paper may form an area for simultaneous projection and display of several recorded lines, including the line being printed. This arrangement will now be described.

Platen 3| is rotatably carried on shaft 14 mounted in a platen frame comprising' the rail member (Fig. 3), and a pair of side members 16 and 11. The platenl frame is pivotally mounted on the side frames 18 and 19 of the printing apparatus at pivots 8| and 82. Fixed to one end of the platen 3| is a line feed ratchet 83 (Fig. 2), and having reference to Fig. 5, the platen side frame 11 is shown pivoted at 82 to the printer side frame 19. The upper end of a line feed link 84 is pivotally connected at 85 to arm 86 of a line feed bell crank lever 81, which in turn is pivotally supported at'88 to the platen side frame member 16 (Figs. 2 and 5) Pivotally connected to the end of arm 89 of line feed lever 81 is a line feed pawl 9| which cooperates with the line feed ratchet 83. As previously mentioned, special function levers are provided for the various functions, such as line feed, platen 3| one step in a line feeding direction. When.

the rod 84 is raised, counterclockwise rotation is imparted to the lever 81 and leftward motion is imparted to the pawl 9| in preparation for a succeeding line feed operation. As disclosed in Patent No. 1,904,164, provision is made to permit, if desired, the advancement of the platen through an angle equal to two teeth for double line-spacmg.

Topermit the shifting of the platen 3| from from the paper roll I6 into the platen unit, in a its upper case to lower case position and vice versa, special function levers 65 are provided, which are operable in accordance with the disclosure in Patent No. 1,904,164 to control the movement of a. link 92, the upper end of which is shown in Fig. 5, as pivotally connected to side frame 11 of the platen frame assembly. For example; assuming that the platen 3| is in a position to print lower case characters and it is desired to shift the platen so asto print upper case characters, the rod or link 92 will be actuated downwardly' causing the platen frame to be rocked clockwise to raise the printing point on the platen 3| to receive impressions from the upper row of characters on the type bars 64. Conversely, when it is desired to return the platen to its lower case position, upward movement will be imparted to the rod 92 to cause the platen frame to be rocked counterclockwise, thus bringing the printing point in alignment with the v lower row of type on the type bars 64.

Fixed toeach of the side frames16 and 11 of the platen frame assembly is a bracket 93 (Fig. 1). To the extremity of each bracket 93 is pivotally articulated a laterally disposed lug 94 at each end of the bottom edge of the backing plate I1 in such manner as to dispose the bottom edge of the backing plate I1 substantially tangential to the platen 3| at the line being printed. Preferably, the plane of the front surface of the backing plate I1 is positioned slightly forward of the true tangential plane to insure that the paper I5 is drawn against the backing plate. Fixed at points 82 and 95 of the printer side frame 19 is a bracket member 91. Similarly, secured at points 8|l and 10 of printer side frame 18 is a corresponding bracket member 96. Each of the brackets 96 and 91 is provided with an upstanding lug 98 and 99, respectively, at the upper end of each of which is pivotally articulated one end of a bar |0'I and |02, respectively. At the opposite ends of bars |0I and |02 are pivotally connected laterally disposed lugs |03 at each end of the upperedge ofthe backing plate I1. In this manner, a parallel motion device having its centers at 80, 82, 90, and |00 is provided, so that the backing plate I1 is mounted for movement during the shifting and unshifting operations substantially in its own plane so that an accurate focus may be maintained in both upper and lower cases.

' The paper roll I6 (Fig. 3) is mounted at the rear` of the printing lapparatus between the printer side frames 18 and 19 and is supported on a spindle |05, which is suitably journalled in said side frames. When introducing the paper I5 well-known manner, the paper is passed over a paper tension bar |06 suitably mounted at the extremities of corresponding arms |01 of a pair of bell crank levers |08 pivoted at points |09 on the platen side frames 16 and 11. To the extremityA of the depending arm of each of said bell crank levers |08 is attached one end of a spring III, the other end of which is secured to the platen side frames 16 and 11. Thus, during the sudden line feed movement of the paper I5, the springs III are stretched, thereby absorbingthe sudden jerk imparted to the paper and preventing suoli rapid movement from reaching the paper roll I6. Then, immediately following the line feed operation, the springs II contract until levers I 08 strike against the stops I I0, thereby smoothly unrolling paper I5 from the paper roll I6.

Pressure rollers ||2 serve to press the paper against the platen 3|, so that the paper will be positively fed along every time the platen is rotated a step for line feed in response to the line feed signal. The paper I5 is then passed behind the color ribbon (supplied by the ribbon feed mechanism 32) at the line of printing. In the printing operation, the ribbon guide I I3 is reciprocated up and down through the medium of the lever 1I each time the pull bar bail member 5 operates a type bar 64.

The record strip or paper I5 is then fed across the backing plate I1, which, as previously mentioned, is substantially tangential to the platen 3| at the line being printed, for exposure to the optical system (as indicated in Fig. 6) of several lines of the message, including the line being printed. The record strip I5 is then passed over a guide roller I |4 (Fig. 3), loosely mounted for l rotation on pilot screws |00 (Fig. 1). The paper |5 is then passed around a roller I I5 secured to a shaft I I6, which is journalled in the plates IOI and |02. Associated with roller I I 5 and disposed on the opposite face of the paper I5 is a pressure roller I I1 carried on a pair of bell cranks I I 8 (one of which is shown in Fig. 3). A spring IIS -acts Vupon bell crank I|8 to supply the pressure between rollers I I5 and I I1, which pressure is sufiicient to establish frictional cooperation between the paper and the rollers. The paper I5 is then `passed under a cross bar |2I, extending between brackets 96 and 91, to a paper take-up reel, indicated generally as |22, carried on a shaft |23, journalled in the brackets 96 and 91.

As shown in Fig. 4, there is fixed to shaft 36 a grooved pulley |24. Secured to the side frame 19 of the printer is a stud shaft 95 which also forms one of the means of securement of bracket 91 to frame 19) on which are rotatably mounted three grooved pulleys |26, |21, and |28 (Fig. 2) which are fixed to a common sleeve (not shown) carried and interposed between pulleys |33 and disc |34 is a disc of frictional material 1135. Carried at the end of shaft |I6 is a compression spring |36 disposed between a washer |31 and the disc |34. The pressure exeerted by spring |36 of this friction clutch arrangement is adjusted by a nut I 38, and in this manner, pulley I3I is frictionally connected to shaft |I6. Pulley |3| is connected to pulley |21 by a belt |39.

A pulley I4I is xed to the extended end of shaft |23 and is connected to pulley |26 by a belt |42. A anged collar |43 is secured to shaft |23 adjacent to the take-up reel or spool |22, and interposedbetween the flange of collar |43 and hub |44 of reel |22 is a disc of frictional material I 45. Also, contiguous to hub |44, but oppositely disposed to disc |45, is a disc of frictional material |46 which is compressed between hub |44 and a disc |41. A slotted disc compression spring |48 is carried on shaft |23 between disc |21 anda disc |49. The pressure exerted by spring |48 of this .friction clutch arrangement is adjusted by a nut ing to the present invention, shaft 36 is continuously rotating due to power. imparted to it from the motor 33. Accordingly, through tile instrumentality of pulley |24 and belt |29, continuous rotation is imparted to pulleys |26, |21, and |28. Consequently, through pulley I2I and belt` |39, constant rotation is imparted to pulley I3 I. Likewise, through pulley |26 and belt |42, continuous rotation is imparted to pulley |4|. The friction clutches (previously described) comprise the torque imparting medium between pulleys |3| and I4I, and shafts I|6 and |23, respectively. Now, since the feeding of the paper I5 from the supply roll is controlled by the line feed mechanism of the printer, the constant torque imparted to shaft IIS (and hence to roller IIS) acts, through the instrumentality of pressure roller II'I, to keep or maintain the paper I 5 taut between platen 3| and roller II4. By rotating the roller I5 continuously, the slack in the paper I5 caused by a lineA feed movement is immediately taken up, thus preventing the paper I5 from bulging between rollers I I4 and platen 3 I.

Due to the constant rotation of pulley |4|., and hence shaft |23, a constant torque is applied to the take-up reel |22 by means of the friction clutch associated-with said take-up reel. In this manner, the paper I5 is maintained in a taut condition between the rollers |I5 and I|1, and the take-up reel |22.

With the arrangement of belt driven paper advancing devices according to the present invention, the paper I5 is constantly maintained in a taut condition between all of the gripping points, and bulging and/or unnecessary oscillation or vibration of the paper is prevented, thus producing a better and more steady image of the printed record on the projection screen. Furthermore, with the arrangement according to the present invention, the platen 3| may be shifted and` unshifted readily without disturbing the tautness of the paper I5.

vAlthough a particular embodiment of the invention has been described herein, it will be understood that the apparatus is capable of many modifications, and it is contemplated that all changes which come within the range and scope of equivalency are intended to be embraced within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In -a strip feeding and display device, a platen, case shifting means therefor, platen feed mechanism to advance intermittently a strip for display of a substantial area of its surface, a second feed mechanism spaced apart from said platen feed mechanism, a re-wind mechanism, a single power vshaft for supplying power to all of said mechanisms, yieldable means for transmitting energy from said shaft and for driving said second and third recited mechanisms to maintain a substantially continuous tension in the strip between said mechanisms during its ad-A vancement, and means effective to preserve said tension irrespective of the operation of said case shifting means.

2. A strip feeding and display device including a telegraph printer-for recording a message on a. recording strip and having a platen for automatically and positively feeding said strip in steps into an area of exposure and including guiding means for guiding said strip from the platen to form the said area of exposure substantially tangent to said platen and containing the portion of the recorded message to be displayed, and guiding means including a roller in frictional engagement withA said strip and connected by yielding driving means to the power shaft of the printing apparatus for, pulling said strip forward for each step of said platen whereby said paper is kept taut in said area during line feed operation.

3. A strip feeding and display device including a telegraph printer for recording a message on a recording strip and having a platen for automatically and positively feeding said strip in steps into an area of exposure and including guiding means for guiding said strip from the platen to form the said area. of exposure substantially tangent to said platen, guiding means including a roller in frictional engagement with said strip and connected by yielding driving means to the main power shaft of said telegraph printer for pulling said strip forward foreach step of said platen whereby said paper is kept taut in said area during line feed operation, and take-up means for said strip also connected by yielding driving means to said motor shaft cooperative with said yielding driving means for constantly maintaining the strip in a taut condition.

4. A telegraph printer including a strip feeding and display device, a platen, a backing plate for providing an area of exposure of the printed record for projection purposes, platen feed mech-' anism to advance intermittently a record strip into said area, guiding means including a. roller in frictional engagement with said strip and connected by yielding driving means to the main power shaft of the printer for pulling said strip forward for each step of said platen whereby said paper is kept taut in said area during line feed operation, and parallel motion means associated with said platen and said backing plate for maintaining said backing plate substantially in the same plane during the case shifting operations to preserve the focus of the area to be projected.

5. A telegraph printer including a strip feeding and display device, a platen, a backing plate for providing an area of exposure of the printed record for projection purposes, platen feed mechanism to advance intermittently a record strip into said area, guiding means including a roller in frictional engagement with said strip and connected by yieldingl driving means 'to the main power shaft of the printer for pullingsaid strip forward for each step of said platen whereby said l paper is kept taut in said area during line feed operation, and means associated with said platen and said backing plate and controlled by said platen for maintaining said backing plate substantially in the same plane during the case shifting operations to preserve the focus of the area to be projected.

- 6. A telegraph printer including a strip feeding and display device, a platen, a. backing plate for providing an area of exposure of the printed record for projection purposes', platen feed mechanism to advance intermittently a record strip into said area, guiding means including a' roller in frictional engagement with said strip and connected by yieldingdriving means to the main power shaft of the printer for pulling said strip forward for each step of said plat en whereby said paper is kept taut in said area during line feed operation, means associated with said platen and said backing plate and controlled by said platen h 7. A telegraph printer including a strip feeding and display device, a platen, a backing plate for providing an area of exposure of the printed record for projection purposes, platen feed mecha.- nism to advanceintermittently a record strip into said area, guiding means including a roller in frictional engagement with said strip and connected by yielding driving means to the main power shaft of the printer for pulling said strip forward for each step of said platen whereby said paper is kept taut in said area during line feed operation, parallel motion means associated with said platen and said backing plate for maintaining said backing plate substantially in the same plane during the case shifting operations to preserve the focus of the area'to be projected, and take-up means for said strip also connected by yielding driving means to said power shaft cooperative with said guiding means and said parallel motion means for constantly maintaining said strip in a taut condition.

8. In a strip feeding and display device, a platen, case shifting means therefor, line feed mechanism associated with said platen to advance intermittently a strip for displayof a substantial area of its surface, a second feed mechanism spaced apart from said line feed mechanism, a

re-wind mechanism, a single power shaft for supplying power to all of said mechanisms, yieldahle means for'transmitting energy from said shaft and for driving said second and third recited mechanisms to maintain a substantially continuous tension in the strip between said mechanisms 4 during its advancement, and parallel motion means associated with said platen and effective.

to preserve said tension irrespective of the operation of said case shifting means.

CHARLES W. BURCKY. 

